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Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 16

एकाशीति तमः सर्गः

Bharata’s Grief, Courtly Summons, and the Assembly Hall

ह्रद इव तिमिनागसंवृतः स्तिमितजलो मणिशङ्खशर्करः।दशरथसुतशोभिता सभा सदशरथेव बभौ यथा पुरा।।।।

hrada iva timināga-saṅvṛtaḥ stimitajalo maṇi-śaṅkha-śarkaraḥ |

daśaratha-suta-śobhitā sabhā sa-daśaratheva babhau yathā purā ||

ダシャラタ王の御子により荘厳された सभा(集会の間)は、昔のままに輝いた。静まり返る水をたたえ、宝珠・貝・小石が散り、巨大な生きものに満ちる湖のようで、まるでダシャラタ王ご自身が再び臨在されたかのようであった。

ह्रदःa lake
ह्रदः:
उपमान (Upamāna)
TypeNoun
Rootह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपमानपदम्
इवlike
इव:
सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-वाचक-अव्ययम्
तिमि-नाग-संवृतःfilled/covered with whales and serpents
तिमि-नाग-संवृतः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootतिमि (प्रातिपदिक) + नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + संवृत (कृदन्त; सम्+वृ धातु, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘तिमिभिः नागैश्च संवृतः’ इत्यर्थे समासः; विशेषणम् (सभावर्णने उपमानस्य)
स्तिमित-जलःhaving still water
स्तिमित-जलः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्तिमित (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘स्तिमितं जलं यस्य’ इति कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (ह्रदः)
मणि-शङ्ख-शर्करःwith gems, shells, and pebbles
मणि-शङ्ख-शर्करः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootमणि (प्रातिपदिक) + शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + शर्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समाहार/इतर) ‘मणयः शङ्खाः शर्कराश्च’ इत्यर्थे; विशेषणम् (ह्रदः)
दशरथ-सुत-शोभिताadorned by Daśaratha’s son
दशरथ-सुत-शोभिता:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootदशरथ (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (कृदन्त; शुभ्/शोभ् धातु, क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् सभा
सभाassembly hall
सभा:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसभा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
स-दशरथ-इवas if with Daśaratha (present)
स-दशरथ-इव:
सम्बन्ध (Comparison/Accompaniment nuance)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस (अव्यय/उपपद) + दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
Formउपमान-सम्बन्धे अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘दशरथेन सह इव’ (as if with Daśaratha present)
बभौshone, appeared
बभौ:
क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootभा (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
यथाas
यथा:
सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formतुलनावाचक-अव्ययम् (as)
पुराformerly, of yore
पुरा:
क्रियाविशेषण (Temporal adverb)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्ययम् (formerly/of old)

The assembly hall looked splendid like a lake of tranquil waters with gems, shells pebbles, grains of sand and teeming with whales and serpents in the presence of the son of king Dasaratha. It appeared as though Dasaratha himself was present.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkāśītitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the eightyfirst sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

D
Daśaratha
R
Rāma
S
sabhā (royal assembly hall)

FAQs

Rājadharma is implied: the king’s presence (or the rightful heir’s presence) sustains order and splendor. The hall’s radiance ‘as of old’ signals legitimacy and continuity of righteous governance through Daśaratha’s line.

In the aftermath of Daśaratha’s death and the political crisis, the royal assembly hall is depicted as shining again due to the presence of Daśaratha’s son (Rāma), evoking the earlier era when Daśaratha presided.

Rāma’s legitimacy and dhārmic stature: his mere presence restores dignity and stability, suggesting the virtue of rightful leadership grounded in righteousness.